CAMA Mongolia

Oops, touched a button, and title went in without the picture.

THe CAMA Mongolia team met this year at the Nukht Hotel outside of Ulaan Baatar for prayer retreat on March 6 - 8. Jack and Diana Stimmel, with Homer and Diana Madison from Menomonie Alliance Church visited us again and led the prayer retreat and fellowship.

CAMA Mongolia

First class

Enrollment and orientation for the first group of students were held on March 13 and 14. The students are from 2 different churches, Nikdovnigon here in Darhan and Suxh Baatar on the border with Russia. The students have enrolled for the Certificate in Christian Ministry, and they will continue with the next series of learning circles. Pieter will visit the group in Sugh Baatar every Saturday and the Nikdovnigon students here in Darhan during the week. Mughee (on the left) is our translator at CLTC.

Happy New Year

Saeghan Chinleree!

Wishing you a Happy New Year! It’s the beginning of spring here in Mongolia, with the temperatures well below freezing. But, the sun is shining, and if you can find a spot in the sun with no wind, you might just think that spring is really here.

The picture of us is with our neighbors, Batbold and Gerlee and his parents in a small town a little away from Darhan. The New Year in Mongolia is called Tsagaan Sar, which translates as White Month or White Moon. Some say tsagaan sar comes from the word Tsagaa (milk foods) as it is customary for Mongolians to eat a lot of milk products during this time. Others think it is because of the color white which is a symbol of all that is beneficial, of happiness, purity and frankness. In 1206, Temujin was proclaimed Great Khaan of all the Mongols. To celebrate, he arranged a great feast at the beginning of spring, and so creating a tradition.

Families start preparing for the holiday at least a month in advance, beginning with the preparation of plenty of gifts and foods. Homes must be cleaned out. Every family makes hundreds of buuz and makes or buys new clothes. The fattest sheep is killed and the lower back and tail are steamed to become the centerpiece of the table for the holiday.

The table are set with sheep’s back, ul boov (pastry), berees (rice cooked with butter and raisins) and traditional milk products. Ul boov are put in tiers on a big plate, with three, five or nine layers. The number nine for Mongolians is very symbolic, so nine layers of ul boov are served for very important state ceremonies. Elders usually make seven layers of ul boov (as in our picture). A family in which the grandfather is alive makes five layers. Young newlyweds make a three-layer ul boov, as the number three is associated with the beginning of everything. The top of the ul boov heap has to be decorated with sweets, pieces of sugar, cream and Mongolian butter.

This year tsagaan sar fell on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday then became also a public holiday, Sunday turned into a normal working day. Schools, government offices, and banks were all open. There were not many people in church on that Sunday morning.